continued for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continued for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the duration of an action or event that has persisted over time. Example: "The meeting continued for three hours before we reached a decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This situation continued for years.

The New York Times

The therapy continued for years.

The New York Times - Magazine

He continued for nine stanzas.

The New Yorker

The fascination continued for decades.

The Economist

Fighting continued for four years.

The New York Times - Books

This continued for months.

The New York Times - Health

It continued: "For what?

The Guardian

This exercise program continued for 16 weeks.

The New York Times

"The looting continued for a week.

The New York Times

The epidemic continued for about 11 days.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A multiday sell-off continued for retailers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continued for" to clearly indicate the duration of an event or state, ensuring the timeframe is explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "continued for" without specifying a duration. Saying "the discussion continued" is vague; specify "the discussion continued for hours" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continued for" primarily functions as a verb phrase followed by a preposition, indicating the duration of an action or state. It connects an activity to a specific period, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples, such as "The therapy continued for years."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "continued for" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to specify the duration of an action or event. As Ludwig AI states, it is "correct and usable in written English" and frequently employed in contexts such as news, science, and encyclopedic content. It's important to use "continued for" with a clear timeframe to avoid ambiguity, ensuring the duration is explicitly stated. Alternatives like "lasted for" or "persisted for" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. With its frequent usage across reliable sources, "continued for" is a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

persisted for

Emphasizes a tenacious continuation, slightly more formal.

lasted for

A simpler, more direct way to indicate duration.

went on for

More informal, implies an ongoing process or event.

extended for

Suggests stretching out or prolonging something.

carried on for

Indicates maintaining a course of action or behavior.

endured for

Highlights the ability to withstand or survive throughout a period.

was sustained for

Focuses on the maintenance or support of something over time.

prevailed for

Implies success or dominance during the specified time.

held out for

Emphasizes resistance or persistence in a challenging situation.

reigned for

Used to describe a period of rule or influence.

FAQs

How can I use "continued for" in a sentence?

Use "continued for" to indicate the duration of an action or state. For example, "The meeting "continued for" three hours" shows the meeting's duration.

What's a more formal alternative to "continued for"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "persisted for" or "extended for". For instance, "The negotiations "persisted for" several weeks".

Is it correct to say "continued on" instead of "continued for"?

"Continued on" has a different meaning, often implying continuation onto something else, while ""continued for"" specifies duration. "The journey continued on" means it progressed, not how long it lasted.

What can I say instead of "the meeting continued for a long time"?

You could say "the meeting lasted for hours", "the meeting went on for ages", or "the meeting was protracted". These alternatives offer varied ways to describe an extended duration.